StillSmart

Alternative method for filtering

I have been asking a question on another post about filtering,
I don’t want to hijack that thread, so I have posted this one.

My question was, Has anyone tried using a 1 Metre pipe with 700g of carbon to filter, as I had seen this method in Gert Strands Activated Carbon Pdf.
As I didn’t have the funds to buy a cartridge system, And as I had some bit’s an pieces that I knew I could fettle into some kind off filter pipe. I thought I’d give it a go.

I used a pipe about 18” for a while and it worked a bit. Then I found in my shed a 1metre 50mm stainless steel pipe and thought I’d have a go with that.

I couldn’t believe how well it worked and thought that if a 1m pipe works this well, That maybe the Essencia cartridge must work even better. But as mine was now so clean smelling and tasting I was puzzled. That’s the reason I posted the original question. But so far nobody has replied saying they have tried both methods. So for me, until someone who Has tried both methods can say which is best/cheapest/easiest, I’ll continue with the pipe.

If, like me, you are on a tight budget, and if like me, you want to make a filter. Then maybe this is for you. It’s Simple, Cheap, and it works really well.
If it continues to work for me as well as it does, I’ll be keeping my £80 in my T500 savings pot.


I saw this on Alcotec’s advertisement –
Alcotec Karbon
This is a highly absorbant charcoal with particle size 0.4 - 1.4 mm, especially chosen for its water and spirit treatment properties. The amount of 1.7L fits exactly into a 1m long plastic pipe, 2" diameter. This is the standard fitting for a good carbon filtration - add a large funnel in one end and a filter in the bottom and you have a carbon column.
Im not sure about the Plastic pipe tho?
Norm

This was the first filtering that I did when I got my SmartStill (as it used to be known) - metre length of household pipe, coffee filters on the end held on with gaffer tape, filled with carbon (pre-washed) then ran it all through. It did filter brilliantly but was a bit of a faff to clean out, plus I had to stand there holding it as I neglected to think I might need some kind of stand... it's a good method, especially with stainless pipe.

Incidentally, a good tip is that once you've run your spirit through the pipe, if you get some hot (not too hot!) water you can slowly add it to the top and you'll be able to feel how far down it's got by the temp - you can then push out a fair bit of spirit that is left in there, say keep adding until the water gets within a quarter of the bottom or so. Saves losing a load to the carbon, although if you plan to put more through soon it's not an issue.

Hi Jimmy

Thanks for the hot water tip. I'll try that.
I have been flushing with water after filtering, To recollect spirit left in the carbon, which I added to my tails jar.

Im considering a Mark 3 pipe with a tap at the bottom. To be able to store spirit in the filter over night, open the tap when ready to collect.

Hi Normski,

Can you put up a picture of your filter pipe? Do you use a large funnel on the top? Anything on the bottom other than a piece of filter paper? How do you hold the pipe (I assume not in your hand).

Cheers,
Chuck

Hi Chuck
I'll try to put a pic of it later.
Its a real simple thing. The pipe is held in a vise. Below on the floor at the bottom is where I collect the filtered spirit.
A 1 metre pipe with some muslin covering the bottom held in place with a jubilee clip. Thats just to stop the carbon dropping out of the bottom. I also have a plug pushed into the bottom. it has a small hole in the center, This is where the spirit exits the pipe. It drips into a coffee filter in a funnel, sat in a jug on the floor. I pour spirit into the top of the pipe a little at a time until I see it is nearly full.

Norm